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e-HUM Announcement

July 28, 2006

MISSION NEWS OF SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN THE DR CONGO THIS SUNDAY, JULY 30

The Reverend Guy Mande, recent Africa University graduate and member of the North Katanga Conference, sent the following letter to Taylor Walters, Coordinator of Development Department North Katanga AC, UMC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and founder of the Kamina Project (www.taylorinafrica.org):

Dear friends,

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is moving towards the first truly democratic elections in its history. In November this year I will be 34 years old, and these up coming elections constitute my best gift.

All the candidates are busy asking people to vote for them. Everybody knows that Congolese people express their concerns through different songs; singers write songs and sing them as way of supporting their respective candidate. Towns like Kamina are full of people who walk on the streets on a daily basis. It is a very exciting time whereby people are expressing their views without being troubled.

The freedom of the Congolese people is a true gift from God; God will definitely choose the right leader for a new Congo. The most interesting thing is that churches are also very present in the run. For instance, a significant number of pastors are campaigning to be members of the parliament including women. For example, Rev Ilgha from North Katanga Annual Conference is also part of the candidates to be elected as MPs.

People are mature; they know who they are going to choose. T-shirts are talking by themselves.

Thank you to President Joseph Kabila for allowing this unforgettable event to happen and thank you to all the United Methodist churches in the world and to the church in general for praying very hard for our country. This is the beginning of a new era in the Congo. The weak spirits must accept that the DR Congo has taken off. -Rev. GUY Mande

SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE TAKING BIDS ON THE CIRCUIT RIDER BUS

The Circuit Rider bus, formerly known as God's Nightcrawler, is for sale. It is a 1978 Coach that has been modified to accommodate mission teams (installed with benches that convert to bunks plus 8 regular bus seats). Please e-mail bids by August 18 to the conference center at bwalters@sicumc.org.

BAKER CHAPEL UMC REBUILDING PROJECT UPDATE

Groundbreaking for Baker Chapel United Methodist Church will be Sunday, July 30. The Sunday Service will be held at the Boonville Junior High School at 9:00 a.m. (Evansville time) followed by the groundbreaking ceremony at 10:30 at the Baker Chapel site.

The rebuilding team is currently working on finalizing details. As soon as we receive word, we will be requesting volunteer help with construction and meal preparation. Volunteer registration will go through the South Indiana Conference Center, 800-919-8160 or emiller@sicumc.org, under the supervision of Pastor Randy Anderson, Chairperson of Southwest Indiana Long Term Recovery Committee. Volunteers will be asked about the dates available, the number of volunteers coming, meal arrangements, and accommodations if staying overnight, tools, skills needed, registration and insurance forms. Needed especially for rebuilds are licensed plumbers and electricians, and workers skilled in masonry and/or drywall. Teams of eight to ten volunteers are ideal.

Donations to help rebuild Baker Chapel United Methodist Church in the Evansville District can be made payable to South Indiana Conference, PO Box 2267, Bloomington, IN 47402-2267. Please note "Baker Chapel Rebuilding Fund" on the monthly remittance form to the Conference or in the check memo. Thank you to those who have already given!

KATRINA CHURCH RECOVERY APPEAL SPECIAL OFFERING SET FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2006

Did you know that United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is prohibited specifically from providing funds to rebuild destroyed or damaged churches and parsonages? By giving generously to The United Methodist Council of Bishops' Katrina Church Recovery Appeal, #818001, you will be helping to restore hurricane-damaged UM facilities, pay salaries for clergy, establish new congregations, renew church-based community ministries such as day-care centers and feeding programs, and provide bibles, hymnals, robes, etc. to churches in need. To receive a downloadable bulletin insert and other resources, please visit www.umc.org/churchrecovery. Please send donations to South Indiana Conference, PO Box 2267, Bloomington, IN 47402-2267 (note "Bishops' Appeal #818-001" on the monthly remittance form to the Conference or in the check memo).

MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE DISASTER RESPONSE CENTER UPDATE

Chris Bowers, MS Conference Logistics Coordinator, sent word that the conference is trying to transition volunteers out of churches and into more permanent host sites across the Mississippi coast. All volunteer teams planning a trip to the Gulf Coast area should now call or e-mail the Mississippi Conference Disaster Response Office at 1-866-435-7091 or disastercenter@meridianumc.org. Chris went on to say that teams are welcome to request certain areas, and the DRC will try to honor those requests to the very best of their ability. The Mississippi UM Disaster Response Volunteer Packet may accessed by going to www.mississippi-umc.org (click on ministries follow link to Disaster Response Center).

UM RELATED AGENCIES TO CONSIDER FOR FUNDRAISERS AND/OR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Please visit the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) Volunteer in Mission website for more information at www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/. States included in NCJ are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North/South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Contact person: Elsie Miller, Administrative Assistant, United Methodist South Indiana Conference, 1520 S. Liberty Dr, Bloomington, IN 47403-5167, 812-336-0186, ext. 221, Fax: 812-336-0216, 800-919-8160, emiller@sicumc.org.

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e-HUM Announcement copyright 2006  by Indiana Area United Methodist Communications.

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